So today was my first tri of the season and first race in 2 years - Manitou Sprint Triathlon in White Bear Lake, MN - 0.5/13.1/3.1. Absolutely THE most beautiful day for it, sunny the whole way.
The last time I did this race, the water was freezing, but this time it was perfect. I used a wetsuit for the first time and I could tell that those things do work, but I panicked on the swim, started hyperventalating and never got into a rhythm. After practicing a in a pool all spring, it was impressive to see how far the seaweed was moving beneath me with every pull.
I finally got my transitions right, spending 2 minutes total 1:30/:30 and T1 included a wetsuit issue. The bike felt horrible, but I was passing people left and right and ended with an average of 22.8 - not bad for me in the early season. The first 4 miles I was still trying to get my breathing steadied from the swim. The erratic breathing lead to a cramp that I just had to ride through. On the home stretch, I spotted someone in my age group and marked him so that I could tell how my transition went and I was getting the feeling that I might be an AG contender this time around.
I came out of T2 20 yards behind the guy and again felt horrible on the run. It was the typical can’t-run-after-biking thing. But then something amazing happened - I burped. A really, really good one. I think it was still in me from the swim. I instantly went from an 8:30 pace to 6:00 and felt great. On my way blowing by my fellow age group dude, he decides he should hang on to me. He jumps behind me and stays there for a mile or so. With about 800m left, I hear him panting up along side of me and just as he makes contact, I bury him with a convincing acceleration and put 30 seconds on him in the last stretch. (yes, I could have gone faster on the run). The finish felt great.
As it turns out, I ended up 3rd in my age group and got a free t-shirt (the free garb to everyone was a transition bag - kudos to the race organizers). I actually felt guilt for toying with AG’er #4. Oh well.
About the last thing I want to do after a race is jump in the shower. I love the way I smell and the way my skin feels. A shower washes that away.
…But eventually, one does need to shower, so how hard do you scrub to get that giant “377” or whatever off your shaved, tanned quadricep? I’m incline to leave it there as a badge of completion every time. I love the double-take people do when they see it. Tri-vanity?
I going to wear the t-shirt and body markings all day tomorrow. 
“vanity - definately my favorite sin” - Al Pacino